Owners of the once-failing Brighton racecourse have taken their spending to £4.5 million for the start of the new season - but insist they are not finished yet.

Visitors will get to enjoy a new public bar, a refurbished restaurant and a newly-painted grandstand when the first race is held on Thursday.

The latest £250,000 renovations take Northern Racing's spending on the course to £4.5 million since it took over in 1998.

However, the course's general manager Phil Bell is confident £8 million will have been spent before the improvements are completed three years from now.

He also wants to diversify beyond horse racing.

Last season the course hosted 450 non-racing events, such as motor shows, antiques fairs and computer fairs.

Staff at the course have opened very early discussions about showing Brighton and Hove Albion's potentially crucial final match against Grimsby on a giant screen.

Contractors have been refurbishing two function rooms in the main grandstand, the Prince Regent Suite and the Premier Restaurant.

The rooms are used for hospitality on race days and are also available for private parties, wedding receptions and seminars.

The back of the grandstand has been painted and new signs have been put up inside and outside the racecourse.

Mr Bell said: "The grandstand was built in 1965 and had never been painted since.

"There is still a lot we want to do. We want to create an exhibition hall on the first floor of the grandstand.

"We also want to improve the main entrance to the racecourse. There is perhaps another three years of work to do and a lot more spending."

The air of confidence at the course differs from the atmosphere five years ago, when the venue was at its lowest ebb.

Turnouts were then in the hundreds, rather than the thousands expected for each race this season. In 1998 the racecourse's turnover was £10,000, compared to £250,000 today.